Kathy and Chris Becker loved their Chateau Elan home but felt like they spent every weekend maintaining the pool and yard. They decided to downsize and move closer to Atlanta to enjoy the Fox Theatre and be near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
They viewed empty lots in a new John Wieland neighborhood and decided to build. Kathy, 50, talked about the three-bedroom townhome that she and Chris, 61, who own ADT Alert Systems, bought in Atlanta’s Collier Hills neighborhood.
Q: Why did you decide to buy?
A: With all of the kids out of the house, we'd like to do more traveling but couldn't do that and keep the house up. Anytime we went to a function, it seemed like it was down in Atlanta. We were driving an hour there and back. Many people said we were nuts for moving to Atlanta, but I haven't regretted a minute.
Q: How did you find this house?
A: I've been working with Leighann (Russell with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners) for years, and she knows my personality. When I called her and told her we wanted to do this, she knew it was a done deal. That same night, she called me back about a development that hadn't even broken ground yet and told me to keep an open mind. I'm a very visual person and wanted to see the townhome, so we visited the John Wieland development in Vinings. Once we saw pictures, we knew The Enclave on Collier would be perfect.
Q: What do you love about the home?
A: The townhome has four floors with an elevator. On the fourth floor, we have a grill and theater room. On the second floor, we have a porch off the kitchen where I like to read. We're within walking distance of a Publix and six restaurants, and I love walking down Howell Mill Road to look at the older homes. We feel safe, and Chris enjoys biking on the Silver Comet Trail.
Q: How have you decorated?
A: My best friend is Sandy Home, owner of Sandy's Designs, and everything inside has little personal touches. For example, a cabinet in the dining room has a cut glass collection that my mother and father collected from antique shops when they traveled, but you couldn't see the glass well. She painted the back to help the pieces stand out. I have a wall filled with photos of all the family and friends in our lives, with "God's greatest gifts" in lettering. People enjoy looking at that when they visit.
Q: What advice do you have about downsizing?
A: Get to know the area where you're moving. While the house was being built, we drove around, found parks and tried different restaurants. We're always at festivals, the Comet Trail and Piedmont Park. We're so busy every weekend and love it.
At a Glance
Chris and Kathy Becker’s new home new home has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms Townhomes in The Enclave on Collier, part of The JW Collection, range from the mid- to high $700,000s.
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